JavaJ - Italian Espresso Bar

Friday, June 27th. Mark you calendar! The biggest JavaJ party in the world ever! EVER!

NOT ONLY are we bringing music back on fridays. NOT ONLY are we bringing back the JavaJ Grand Cru Coffee. NOT ONLY are we bringing R. Miguel Cofee. WE ARE BRINGING R. MIGUEL.

As in Miguel Meza. As in meet the winemaker, except that it's not wine, it's coffee, and Miguel isn't a winemaker, he's the roastmaster. But you get the idea.

And what fine goodies is Miguel bringing us? Well, in addition to goodies from the afformentioned Hawaiin Ka'u coffee farms...monkey spit.

Yeah, no, that's not a typo. As in "monkey parchment" coffee. Unlike the Kopi Luwak (weasle poop coffee, in laymans terms) that the media seems so obsessed with, monkey parchment has been validated by real coffee experts. People who I respect, like Instaurator, Vince Picolo, and of course, Miguel have vouched for this unique coffee and deemed it a true delicacy. If you're still sceptical, well, all the more reason to come check it out!

At any rate, come for the music and fun. The party is free and open to the public. The tasting is free to watch, but you really want to throw down the $20 for the coffee flight. The coffees will be prepared on a vaccum pot, otherwise known as a siphon brewer. All R. Miguel coffees will also be available for purchase. Hope to see you there!

The Grand Cru drought is over!

JavaJ is very pleased...Ecstatic even...to offer our latest Grand Cru coffee, R. Miguel Pele!

This is one of the most exciting coffees we have ever offered. (Yes, up there with La Esmeralda). This Hawaiian coffee is probably the truest expression of Terroir I have ever tasted in a cup of coffee. In addition to turning out in the cup the luscious fruit, sugarcane, and floral notes found on the island, this strain is completely unique to Hawaii.

Roastmaster R. Miguel Meza, started R. Miguel as a side project to highlight the most outstanding coffees he was encountering while at Paradise Roasters. Simply put, R. Miguel ONLY features the absolute best of the best.

JavaJ is the EXCLUSIVE purveyor of R. Miguel Coffee in the Sacramento Region.

A little more about the coffee from R. Miguel:

Ka'u is a region on the south side of the big island of Hawaii. This region has very good altitude for Hawaii on average around 2000 ft. and is a cooler, wetter enivroment than nearby Kona. Only a short distance from the Kiluea Volcano the region also has different soil than Kona and often receives 'Vog' -morning fog mixed with volcanic ash. This region may also contain a unique varietal.

Will Tabios and a handful of others have planted coffee from old trees growing nearby. Coffee was brought to this region late in the 19th century by an Australian ship captain several decades before coffee was ever planted in Kona. While its presumed to be typica it may be of a different heritage than the Typica brought to Kona from Guatemala. Whether it is the varietal or the unique micro-climate, something is special about Ka'u. Last year coffees from Ka'u took 6th and 9th out of over 100 entries from around the world in the SCAA cupping pavilion.

Will Tabios washed process coffee placed the highest last year and was among the most beautiful and distinctive cups of 2007. We asked will to do some processing experiments for for us, hoping we could craft an even better coffee from this region. In late January of 2008 the first trials of screen-dried natural and pulped natural process coffees were completed. It was clear right away that the natural process in particular showed a lot of promise. The first production lot of coffees were produced in April for us from the Ka'u Typica using only fully ripe cherry which was carefully dried on raised screens and raked constantly to avoid fermentation and mold. The results of months of experiments and process refining is our 'Pele'.

This is the first JavaJ Grand Cru selection in 5 months. We waited this long for something this good to come along.

We are currently taking orders for this rare and unique coffee. It is priced at $50 1/2 Lb, with a 1 Lb. limit per customer. (We would love to sell you more, really, but supply is very limited). If you would like to reserve some, call and leave a message. 916-781-5498

-J.

Well, so much for blogging. SCAA was off the hook. I can't even tell you. Cuz you don't know. And I can't tell you. Cuz you don't know.

Back two weeks now, and we all have coffee fever! Went on a trip to Verve in Santa Cruz. Hung out with Jared and Sean and Kolby. Bought some Street Level and Sermon espresso. We'll be rockin' that at the shop today. They also hooked it up with a little Ethiopian Harrar and an interesting Sumatra Blue Batak Peaberry. We've been pulling SOs with those and they are pretty good. People around here almost forgot what a Ethiopian natural tastes like, so it is a good precursor to new crop.

Speaking of, in case you haven't already been hearing this all year, new crop Ethiopians, especially naturals, are supposed to be OFF THE CHARTS this year. You don't even know. I'd tell you, but I don't even know. If only they can get here. Soon.....

Hey Peeps!

Well the first day was cool, although after such a rough night, I was exhausted all day. Mostly I just hung out and watched the USBC going down. A little later I volunteered to keep time. That was fun as well as insightful.

Met up with my boy Keith from Flying Goat. Along with Josh and Meg from Brewed Awakenings, we wen to grab a quick bite to eat. No time for real food. We had to settle for Chipotle. Yeah, that's right McDonalds burritos. Keith said he would deny ever being there, but here is the proof.



You can see him ducking out, but the chipotle sign is clearly visible.

Headed back to conference for the Key Note by Michael Shuman. There was a wild Ethiopian delegation there that opened with some traditional dancing and music.

Headed back to the hotel to take a nap before heading out to the party at the Mill City Museum. But nothing happened there. Yeah.

That's right, peeps. I'm in Minneapolis right now, getting ready to head to the SCAA 2008 conference.

After being delayed at the airport no less than three times, (mechanical failure that fixed itself, snowed in, and fog) I am finally here.



No need to worry though, we're still open. Jen, Jake, and Sarah have got you covered.

Met some cool people at the hostel, where I found a last minute bed. I love staying at hostels. You meet so many interesting people from all over.

Well, off to conference!

-J

So Clint and I spent the weekend at the Western Regional Barista Championship. What a blast!

Though longtime members of the community, this was our first time competing. We did about as well as could be expected for jumping in last minute with only a few weeks to practice. Still, we came to have fun and kick it with our homies. Much fun was had, a little too much at Ritual, I hear.

Mad shoutout to my boy Drew, who was also a first time competitor, probably the best first time competitor in the history of the WRBC, and managed to take 5th! Also mad props to Chris Baca. You deserve it dog. Norcal, baby!